Product description

For millennia, the culture and philosophy of the ancient Egyptians have fascinated artists, historians, and spiritual seekers throughout the world. Now, with this deluxe edition, the legendary 3,500-year-old Papyrus of Anithe most beautiful of the ornately illustrated Egyptian funerary scrolls ever discoveredhas been restored in its original sequences of text and artwork, using the latest advances in computer-imaging technology. Four exquisitely illustrated gatefold spreads and an acclaimed translation by two noted Egyptologists showcase the Papyrus's elaborately bordered images and convey its intended sense of motion and meaning in a way that other books on the subject cannot begin to match. For both lay readers and scholars interested in a wide range of topicsfrom mysticism and philosophy to anthropology and astronomythis sumptuous and accessible new volume will be an essential acquisition.

Author information

Carol Andrews has been a curator in the Department of Egyptian Antiquities at the British Museum since 1971. James Wasserman is an author and book designer in New York City whose innovative vision shaped the unique format of this book. Dr. Ogden Goelet is assistant professor of Egyptian Language and Literature at New York University and has written extensively on the subject of Egyptology. Dr. Raymond Faulkner (1894-1982) renowned British Egyptologist was a major contributor to the field of Egyptian philology, the translator of many important texts, and the author of numerous scholarly publications.

Review quote

-- "NAPRA Trade Journal," Fall 1994 This magnificent book is the first complete presentation of the Papyrus of Ani, featuring graphics that reveal beautifully the texture of the original papyrus, coupled with the translated text. The original papyrus, on its discovery, was cut into sections for transport. The careless cutting of uneducated workers left the manuscscipt almost indecipherable, and to date only sections of it have been made available to the public. Computer imaging allowed the papyrus to be pieced into its original state, and a faithful translation was then possible. This document is precious not only for its historic significance, but also for its glimpse into the ancient Egyptian religion and its teachings about the passage from life to death. Commentaries and other notes make this work even more accessible. A spectacularly beautiful work of devotion. -- "Publishers Weekly, " August 1994 The Papyrus of Ani -- The Book of Going Forth by Day, created around 1250 B.C.E., is the best surviving example of some 200 texts comprising the funerary scrolls that accompanied deceased Egyptians into the afterlife. "The Egyptian Book of the Dead: The Book of Going Forth by Day" presents the complete papyrus, photographed from an 1890 facsimile edition, with an English translation by the late Raymond O. Faulkner. -- "Library Journal," November 1994"The Book of the Dead" is a collection of writings that were placed in tombs as a means of guiding the ancient Egyptian soul on its journey to the afterlife. The Papyrus of Ani, which is reproduced here, is one of the most important and beautiful of the surviving papyri. Damage in the 19th century seriously confused its sequencing and the relationship between text and illustrations. Here for the first time the scroll is presented in its proper sequence and in its entirety. The English text is placed immediately underneath the corresponding hieroglyphs, and the reproductions are faithful to the originals in all their glowing color. A critical purchase for any serious collection of materials on ancient Egypt. -- Robert S. Bianchi, "Archaeology" March/April 1995"The Egyptian Book of the Dead" is a remarkable volume. It is based on the Papyrus of Ani, which, with the exception of the Rosetta Stone, is the most famous Egyptian object in the collections of the British Museum. Its fame is due in no small part to the quality of the illustrated vignettes that rank among the masterpieces of ancient Egyptian painting......I, for one, would hope that readers will henceforth refrain from relying on Budge's outdated editions and turn to this volume instead. The price, under $25 dollars paperback; the quality of the large-format plates, several of which include foldouts; the authoritative translation based on that of R.O. Faulkner, which is considered in the opinion of many experts to be one of the best translations, and commentary by Ogden Goelet make this book a must for all libraries.

Editorial reviews

Using the latest computer-imaging technology, the ancient Papyrus of Ani (one part of what is now collectively known as the Book of the Dead) is painstakingly restored to its former glory in this large-format volume. Accompanied for the first time by a new English translation on the same page, these ancient scrolls, which represent some of the earliest human writings, are seen as their creators would have seen them some 3500 years ago. (Kirkus UK)